Which term describes the body of law derived from court decisions and interpretations?

• A. Case law
• B. Statutory law
• C. Civil law
• D. Administrative law

Answer: (A)

Case law describes the body of law developed from court decisions and the interpretations judges give to statutes and legal principles. In common law systems, past decisions create precedent that guides future rulings in similar cases, making case law a living source that fills gaps and shows how laws apply to real-world situations. Statutory law, by contrast, consists of written laws enacted by legislatures. Civil law systems rely more on codified statutes and comprehensive codes rather than precedents, and administrative law consists of rules created by government agencies. So the term that fits is case law.